Melady’s Monet noses ahead in four way finish

WILKES-BARRE PA – The ten-year-old classmaster Melady's Monet raised his harness racing career bankroll to $1,419,728 when he proved most photogenic in a four-way picture to take the $21,500 handicap trot feature Sunday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The final time of 1:53 was only a tick off the fastest trotting mile of 2019 on a 5/8-mile track in North America, posted by Jack Vernon this past Tuesday at Dover.

Assigned the outside in a field of six, the victorious Revenue S gelding spotted fourth for driver Andrew McCarthy as Chestnut Schofield left no doubt as to his intentions, opening a four length lead by a 26.3 quarter and keeping the margin at the 55.1 half. Melady's Monet started uncovered early in the backstretch and steadily gained, as did pocketsitter Two AM to the 1:23.2 ¾ pole, with Dog Gone Lucky joining the top trio and swinging wide in the stretch while Two AM went to the Pocono Pike.

All four horses gave their all to the line, with Two AM getting a brief advantage in deep stretch, but Melady's Monet showed his fortitude by thrusting his nose ahead on the money over his innermost foe. Chestnut Scofield held extremely gamely after the wild pace and was only a head off the win at the wire, while Dog Gone Lucky's backers cashed no show tickets even though he was beaten only a neck.

Melady's Monet won for the 55th time in his career in his journey to Pocono. Owned by Melady Enterprises LLC, the spry oldster is trained by a man who has had an association with horses who show grittiness and longevity – Herman Heitmann, the first trainer of Foiled Again.

Pocono next goes to post on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The following week will mark the beginning of the regular four-card-a-week schedule at the mountain oval, with Saturday and Sunday racing starting at 7 p.m., while Monday and Tuesday action starts at 4 p.m.

PHHA / Pocono

Jerry Connors